Cheerios Sends Cheer to Military Families this Holiday Season!

Military spouse.  Since my husband joined the Air Force this term has taken on a new meaning.  It no longer simply means someone who is married to a service member.  Now, it signifies the impending deployment(s) our family will go through.  I often think about my sister-in-law and what she has endured as a military spouse.  I have 2 brothers in the Navy.  My older brother has been on several deployments.  He has been on deployment during the births of 2 of his 5 children.  He is now on a 2.5 year “deployment” (the Navy calls it a deployment so they don’t have to pay a housing stipend based on the high cost of living in the country where he is going).  His family stayed behind in Florida.  I honestly think I might loose my mind if I was in my sister-in-law’s position.  Their youngest is only 4 months old! My sister-in-law is an amazing woman who is doing as much (just in different ways) to serve our country as those who are in combat.

My brother came home from Fallujah with a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.  He also came home with PTSD.  My sister-in-law has stayed by his side, and has done all that she can to help him cope.  Military families give much more than we often realize and it can take a toll.  That is why Cheerios and the USO have launched “Cheer”, a postcard campaign that spreads cheer directly to these honorable military families and supports USO programs.

During the months of October and November, 2011, specially-marked boxes of Cheerios cereal will feature Cheer postcards on the front of the box. You and your kids can simply cut out the postcard, write a message of thanks (and a drawing if inspired!) on the back, add a stamp, and mail the pre-addressed card to the USO. The USO will then deliver the Cheer card to military families across the country.

Cheerios will donate $1 to the USO for each Cheer postcard from specially marked packages received by November 30, 2012. As part of the Cheer Program, Cheerios has already donated $150,000 to the USO, and will donate up to an additional $100,000 based upon the number of postcards received.  Many of these families are on one income and struggle financially.  In addition to receiving cheer from the postcards you are sending, you’re also helping to provide some much needed financial support for struggling families.

Yesterday, I sat down with Big Brother and filled out some of these Cheer postcards, thanking families for the sacrifices they make for our country.  I explained to Big Brother why we were doing what we were doing and he was so excited to be doing something that might put a smile on someone’s face. We’ll take them to post office this morning to mail.

This special opportunity runs through the end of November so, before you toss out that Cheerios box, cut out the postcard on the front of the box, write a quick note and drop it in the mailbox.  It only takes a minute and will make such a difference!

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Cheerios and received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to post.